82 The Sedgefield Country 



The last day is worthy of note, proving as it does that 

 a lot of country may be drawn blank at the end of a season, 

 when the earths are all open, even though foxes are pretty 

 plentiful. The meet was at Great Stainton, and the follow- 

 ing coverts were all drawn blank, though three brace of 

 foxes had been found in a portion of the same country be- 

 fore 2-30 only three weeks before. — Lee Close, Bleach House 

 plantation and moor. Mount Pleasant and Tilery woods, 

 Byers Gill, Barmpton whin, Ketton Leazes, Woogrey, Fox 

 Hill, Ford's whin, Clement's whin, California plantations, 

 Scurfield's plantation. White House wood, Thorpe wood, 

 Watts' plantation and moor. At ten minutes past six a fox 

 was found in Homer Carr and the blank day was saved, but 

 it proved a vixen and went to ground in an unknown earth 

 on Mr. Flavell's farm. Neseless, Foxton plantation and Bog 

 Hall were afterwards visited, but with no satisfactory result. 

 This may be taken as the record " blank draw " during the 

 last thirty years or more with the South Durham Hounds. 

 No less than eighteen reliable coverts were called upon be- 

 fore hounds spoke to a fox. Time of draw, seven hours and 

 ten minutes up to find. Mr. Ord was assiduous in his 

 attention to the hounds, and whilst at home during the 

 three years of his mastership, only missed being at the 

 kennels on a Sunday afternoon on two occasions, not un- 

 frequently walking there and back, eight miles. Mrs. Ord 

 would very often drive there and walk home after tea. 



In 1881-2 the total amount of subscriptions received 

 amounted to £1,642 15s. 6d., including a donation of £27 

 19s. 6d., collected from hunting farmers by the late Mr. W. 

 Madderson of Fishburn, a novelty by the way in hunting 

 subscriptions, and greatly appreciated at the time. The 

 total amount of fund for purchase of the hounds from 



